Mooring device.



J. T. FRAZIER, JR.

MOORING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28. 1917.

Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

JAMES T. FRAZIER, JR., OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

MOORING- DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

Application filed April 28, 1917. Serial No. 165,232.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that JAMES T. FRAZIER, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at 110 Third street northeast, Washington, District of Columbia, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mooring Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved mooring device and has for its primary object to provide means whereby a launch or other relatively small vessel may be quickly and safely moored to a dock or buoy.

It is a more particular object of my invention to provide a device for the above purpose embodying a suitably formed body member, a spring held latch element, mounted thereon and means on the body to receive a detachable directing staff or pole whereby the latch element may be readily engaged with the mooring ring on the latch or buoy.

It is another object of my invention to provide a device as above characterized which may be advantageously employed for attaching and detaching tow lines. launching boats, the laying of mines and various other analogous purposes.

The invention also has for a general object to provide a mooring device for boats, which is simple and durable in its construc tion. highly convenient, and serviceable for the purpose in view. and which may be manufactured at relatively small cost.

1V ith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the improved combination and arrangement ofthe several parts to be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention and showing the manner of using the same.

Fig. 2 is a similar view on an enlarged scale certain of the parts being in section.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the latch hook and 9 Fig. 5 is a side elevation illustrating a slightly modified embodiment of the invention.

' ably attached to the boat or vessel.

Referring in detail to the drawings 5 designates the body of my improved mooring device which is in the form of a metal plate or casting provided upon one of .its side faces with an obliquely inclined socket as indicated at 6. The end of the body plate projecting beyond the open end of said socket is provided with an opening for the attachment thereto, of the cable, chain or other flexible connection 7 which is suit- Upon the opposite end of the body plate 5 the laterally projecting curved hook 8 is suitably formed said hook having a channel 8 in its outer face, terminating in spaced relation to the side face of the body plate 5. v This end of the body plate is also formed with the longitudinally projecting bifurcated arm 9. The spaced portions of this arm are connected by a pin and upon this pin a sleeve 11 is loosely engaged.

Between the spaced portions of the bifurcated arm 9 the latch element 12 is arranged and this element is pivotally mounted upon a pin 13 which is fixed at its ends in the arm 9, adjacent to the point of juncture of the spaced hook 8 with the end of the body plate. The element 12 is in the form of a longitudinally curved bar and upon one end is provided with a substantially triangular shaped head 14, this head having a fiat inner end face indicated at 15. Upon the pivoted end of the latch element 12 a laterally projecting lug 16 is formed, the said lug extending between the spaced portions of the bifurcated arm 9. The body plate 5 is provided in the end thereof which is opposed to the lug 16 with a socket 17 which receives a coil spring 18, one end of-this spring bearing against the base wall of the socket-and the other end thereof being engaged with the lug 16 as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

The spring 18 normally acts to hold the latch element 12 in the position shown in Fig. 1, the inner curved edge of the shank of said latch elementbeing engaged upon the base wall of the channel 8 in the hook 8 which is formed upon the body plate 5.

It is also to be noted that the inner end of the head 14 is disposed closely, contiguous to the said side face of the plate 5 and partly closes the space between the face of the boat or vessel.

R designates the mooring ring or keeper member which is attached to the dock or buoy in any ordinary or approved manner and with this mooring ring the latch element 12 is adapted to be operatively engaged in the manner in which I will now set forth.

' 21 designates a guide staff or pole one end of which is suitably tapered for detachablewedging engagement in the socket 6 formed on the body; plate 5. By means of this staff or pole, connected to the body of the device as herein shown it will be manifest that the triangular shaped head 14 of the latch element 12 may be easily and quickly directed into engagement with the keeper member or buoy ring It, and by then jerking or quickly pulling upon the cable or chain 7 a suificient pressure of the end 14 of the latch element is exerted against themetal ring so that this element will be forced outwardly away from the body plate 5 against the action of the spring 18, thereby permitting the ring to enter between the inner edge of the hook 8 and the side face of the plate 5.

In this manner, it will be manifest that the mooring device may be easily, quickly and securely engaged with the ring attached to the dock or buoy and without necessitating that the boatman shall assume dangerous positions in the endeavor to properly engage the latch element with the ring, and also as the device is held by means of the pole 21 against swinging or turning movement, the ring may be properly engaged in the first attempt.

As indicated by the dotted line in Fig; 1 of the drawing, the keeper member or ring B may swing to various angular positions with respect to the body 5 of the device, or such device may assume various positions with respect to the ring R. In any of such 7 positions it is impossible for the latch element 12 to become accidentally disengaged from the mooring ring, in the pull exerted by the line 7 upon the device. This is primarily due to the fact that the inner edge of the hook 8 on the body plate is disposed inwardly of the corresponding edge of the element 12, so that the ring cannot by any possible chance engage with the inner curved edge of the latch elementand force the same laterally to an open position. The only point of contact of the ring with the latch element is upon the inner face 15 of the terminal head 1%, and the pressure thereon is substantially in line with the pivot 13 longitudinally of the body 5 so that such pressure would be ineffective to urge the latch to its open position against the action of the spring 18.

In Fig. 5 of the drawing I have illustrated a slightly modified form of my invention wherein the hook 8 is integrally formed with the body plate and projects from one side thereof in spaced relation to one end of said plate.

The latch element 12 is of slightly different form from that above described and consists of a metal bar or plate mounted at a point intermediate of its ends upon a pin 13 which is fixed in the terminal portionsof the hook 8. ment 12 is formed with a hook 15 the bight portion of which is'normally engaged with the side of the body plate of the device, the bill of the hook projecting outwardly in a lateral direction from the body plate. 7 I

In the body plate 5 one end of the rod 22 is fixed, said rod being curved asshown and having its other end loosely engaged through an opening 23 in the end of the latch element 12.

The end of the body plate isformed into an eye indicated at 24, to which a rope or cable 25 attached to the boat or vessclis connected. Upon the pin 22 a coiled spring 26 is engaged, one end of this spring hearing against the terminal of, the latch element 12 and the other end thereof being plate 5.

The opposite end of the body plate is formed witha relatively large eye to which the main cable or chain 7' is attached.

In this construction, like that previously described the body plate is provided with a socket to receive the end of the detachable staff or pole 21 whereby the device is guided or directed into proper relation to the keeper member or mooring ring which is attached to the dock or buoy. The manner of engagement of the ring between the latchelement and the hook, is substantially identical with the operation of the preferred form of the invention, but in this modified construction the latch element is not positively actuated and moved to its released position by a cable or rope.

In the use of. the latter form of the device, the disconnection is effected by reversing the position of the body 5 with respect to its'positionr with relation to the ring when attaching the device thereto, and pull is then exerted upon the rope 25 so as One end of the latch elee i located in a pocket 27 formed on the body v V to cause the ring to bear forcibly against the bight portion of the hook 15 on the end of the latch element and force the same outwardly against the action of the spring 26. For obvious reasons however, the first described form of the device is preferred, as it assuresabsolute safety of the boat or vessel and prevents the possible release thereof from connection withthe mooring ring, in case of severe windstorms.

I have found both embodiments of my invention to be highly convenient and serviceable in practical use as they enable the op erator or user to quickly attach or detach the cable or rope to or from the mooring ring with a minimum of manual labor.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, manner of operation and several advantages of the illustrated embodiments of the device will be clearly and fully understood. The device is primarily designed for use in connection with motor boats, launches and other similar small craft. The invention may of course be manufactured in various sizes, and the form proportion and relative arrangement of the several elements above referred to can also be variously modified as special requirements may necessitate. It is therefore to be understood that while I have herein shown and de scribed the preferred construction and arrangement of the several essential features of the invention the same are nevertheless susceptible of considerable modification and I therefore reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes in putting the invention into practical use as may be fairly considered within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A device of the character described including a body plate having a socket formed on one side thereof to receive a directing member, the axis of said socket being disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the plate, a latch element movably mounted upon the body plate, andmeans urging the latch element to its closed position.

2. A device of the character described including a body plate provided with means for the detachable connection of a directing member thereto, a latch element pivotally mounted upon one side of said body plate, and a spring yieldably urging said latch element to its closed position with respect to the body plate.

3. A device of the character described including a body plate having a bifurcated arm projecting laterally from one side thereof, a latch element pivotally mounted in said arm and provided with a lug on one end, and

a spring engaged with said lug and disposed in co-axial relation with the body plate to yieldably urge said latch element to its closed position with respect to the body plate.

A. A device of the character described including a body plate having a laterally proj ecting hook on one face thereof, a latch element pivotally mounted upon said body plate said latch element having a hook on one of its ends opposed to said body plate, and means yieldably urging said latch ele ment to closed position, the inner edge of the latch hook being normally engaged against the outer side of the first named hook.

5. A device of the character described including a body plate, a latch element movably mounted upon said body plate, said plate having means interposed between the latch element and the opposed side of the body plate adapted to engage a keeper member and prevent pressure by the keeper member against the latch element in a direction to move the latch element and release the keeper member, and means yieldingly urging said latch element to its closed position.

6. A device of the character described including a body plate provided with a longitudinally extending bifurcated arm on one end, a latch element pivotally mounted upon one side of said plate, means disposed in the bifurcation of said arm and coacting with said latch element to urge the same to its closed position, a guide mounted in said arm, and afiexible operating member connected to said latch element and movable over said guide.

7. A device of the character described including a body plate provided with a longitudinally extending bifurcated arm on one end, a latch element pivotally mounted upon one side of said plate and having a lug projecting between the spaced portions of said arm and a spring disposed between said lug and the body plate and in axial alinement with the latter yieldably urging the latch element to its closed position.

8. A device of the character described including a body plate provided with a longitudinally extending bifurcated arm on one 115 end, a latch element pivotally mounted upon one side of said plate and having a lug projecting between the spaced portions of said arm, said body plate being provided with a longitudinally extending stocket at the inner 120 end of said arm, a spring seated in said socket and bearing upon said lug to urge the latch element to its closed position, a guide sleeve rotatably mounted in the end of said arm, and a flexible operating member con- 125 nected to the latch element and movable over said sleeve.

9. A device of the character described having a body plate, a latch element pivotally mounted upon said body plate, said plate 130 having means interposed between the latch means yieldingly urging said latch element 1 element and the opposed side of the body to its closed position.

plate to limit the movement of the latch ele- In testimony whereof I affix my signature rndent to]- ifts closed POSltlOl, said means being in the presence of two Witnesses.

a apte or engagement y a eeper mem er and affording a guard to prevent pressure of JAMES FRAZIER said member against the latch element in a Witnesses: direction to move said element and permit W. C. HUGHES, of the release of the keeper member, and JOHN N. KILEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

